Boating is a very popular summertime activity for many families, and boating is a year-round pastime for many men and women. But boating can become very dangerous when boats are not operated properly or when boaters take to the water under inclement weather conditions. Every year, the United States Coast Guard compiles statistics on reported recreational boating accidents. The statistics are derived from accident reports that are filed by the owners and operators of vessels involved in accidents.

Boating Regulations

Current regulations require that the operator of any vessel, that is used for recreational purposes and is numbered, to file a Boating Accident Report (BAR) when any of the following occurs:

A person dies

A person is injured and requires medical treatment at a place other than the accident site

A person disappears from the vessel

Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more or there is a complete loss of any vessel

Boating accidents involving death, serious injury or someone’s disappearance must be reported within 48 hours of the occurrence. Damage reports have to be made within 10 days of the occurrence.

The total number of accidents reported in 2005 was 4,969. The number of fatalities from boating accidents in 2005 was 697, and the number of injuries from boating accidents in that year was 3,451. In 2005, there were almost 13 million recreational vessels registered with the United States Coast Guard, and boating accidents caused just under $39 million in property damage.

Approximately 70% of all fatal boating accident drowned. Of those who drowned, 87% were not wearing their personal floatation device. Boating accident information reveals that over 400 lives could have been saved that year if boaters had worn their lifejackets.

Factors Involved in Accidents

The most common type of boating accident reported was a collision with another vessel. The two biggest causes of fatalities, however, are capsizing and falls overboard. The factors most often attributed to boating accidents are reckless operation, operator inattention, excessive speed and operator inexperience. Alcohol use was either a direct or indirect contributing factor in approximately one-quarter of all boating fatalities in 2005. Open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats were the three types of vessels most frequently involved in a boating accident in 2005.

Boating accidents can certainly be prevented. When operating a recreational vessel, steps can be taken to prevent an accident or to minimize damage if an accident does occur:

Wear lifejackets at all times

Do not consume alcohol while boating

Be aware of the weather

Use any available distress-alerting and GPS technologies

If you are involved in a boating accident, a report must be filed within 48 hours of the incident if there is injury, death or disappearance of a person. Accidents involving damage only must be reported within ten days of the accident. For more articles like this, boomark www.BoatingAccidentAttorneys.info

Author: Lynn Fugaro

Boating accidents are far too prevalent and are almost always extremely dangerous. The high speeds, relative lack of protection, and the water make boating accidents more hazardous than many accidents on land. If someone is temporarily disabled or incapacitated, like being knocked unconscious, they will be in grave danger in the water, whereas the same peril would not exist on land. It is extremely important to take every possible precaution when boating for the safety of everyone involved.

Many of the most common causes of boating accidents are preventable. These include: intoxicated drivers, inexperienced operators, lack of maintenance leading to equipment failures, passengers not wearing life jackets, ignoring posted signs like no wake zones, and many similar errors.

Of course, there will always be accidents that could not be avoided, but many of the things that cause serious accidents and injuries did not have to happen. Boating in dangerous weather is also a cause of injuries that could easily be avoided. If the operator is being cautious and the passengers are being careful and wearing life jackets, many of the injuries resulting from boating accidents could be avoided.

One of the biggest sources of boating accidents is the cruise ship. There are many more and different opportunities for injuries on a cruise ship than on a regular boat. As fun and relaxing as cruises can be, they can also be hazardous. Current cruise ships are so massive and hold so many people with such a wide array of amenities that they are like small cities. That opens them up to all of the dangers inherent in a city, along with many others.

Some of the most common cruise ship injuries stem from things like: food poisoning, infection, fires on the ship, slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, or any maltreatment from crewmembers. Because there are so many people confined in such a small area, there is a big risk of transmission of sickness or other ailments.

In addition to all of the injuries that can occur on the boat, or as a result of bad operation of the cruise ship, most cruises also include some kind of excursions onto land or in various ports. Obviously, being in foreign places brings with it a variety of inherent dangers, and these must be handled carefully.

Author: Joseph Devine

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Recreational boating and water-sport activities are meant to be just one thing: Fun. Unfortunately, those reckless drivers or drunken boaters often cause an accident that results in significant damage or bodily injury.

If injured as a result of a accident at sea it can be a benefit to talk to a reputable firm of boating accident lawyers. Talking to a attorney that specializes in personal injury from a water-craft incident is necessary to help in recovering any damages or compensation that might be entitled from a injury sustained. Pain & suffering, damage to property, loss of wages, rehabilitation, hospitalization and on going care are just some of the causes that a victim might make a claim.

It’s a good ideal to report a boating incident with the first 48 hours. State regulations differ as to a stipulated time frame, but a responsible boat owner will take control of the situation as soon as possible. The most common boating incidents tend to be those that result in a collision with another vessel, a vessel capsizing, a fall overboard, and alcohol or drugs use.

Operator inattention, careless driving, and excessive speed are among the most common contributing factors to a boat accident. With the open watercrafts, PWCs (Jet skis or Waverunners), Jet boats and cabin motorboats seen as the vessel types most commonly associated with these incidents. Injuries sustained as a consequence of boating accident can often be severe or fatal. Possible injuries can include fractures, spinal damage, broken or dislocated bones and limb, or even in severe cases the loss of a limb.

If unfortunate to be involved in a incident at sea, the first thing that needs to be put in motion, after actually reporting it, is to get in contact with a firm of boating accident lawyers to represent your interests.

Author: Arran James

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arran_James